Resonance, a data and research firm, has released its Best Cities report, an annual ranking that spotlights the globe’s most influential and economically thriving cities.
To identify the best places to live and visit, the company compared over 400 cities with populations exceeding 1 million. It scored each city on three factors: livability, lovability, and prosperity — using measures such as the number of family-friendly attractions, walkability, public transit quality, nightlife, overall economic health, and more.
Resonance also analyzed user-generated data from platforms such as Google, Instagram, and TikTok to gauge appeal.
The top cities of 2026 are familiar names across Europe, the US, and Asia, with one in the Middle East. Surprisingly, a few popular tourist hubs, such as Mexico City and Miami, didn’t even crack the top 20. Read below to find out which cities did.
Business Insider included population data from Resonance, alongside housing and dining data from Numbeo, a crowdsourced comparison website that provides detailed cost-of-living information for major cities worldwide.
Population: 14,206,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $714.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $964.04Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $47.20Cost of a cappuccino: $3.81
20. Istanbul
Population: 14,206,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $714.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $964.04Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $47.20Cost of a cappuccino: $3.81
Population: 7,617,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,081Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,318.18Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $70.64Cost of a cappuccino: $5.14
19. Hong Kong
Population: 7,617,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,081Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,318.18Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $70.64Cost of a cappuccino: $5.14
Population: 22,421,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $636.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $668.09Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $38.36Cost of a cappuccino: $2.14
18. So Paulo
Population: 22,421,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $636.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $668.09Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $38.36Cost of a cappuccino: $2.14
Population: 7,605,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,088.50Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,685.81Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.40Cost of a cappuccino: $3.91
17. Toronto
Population: 7,605,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,088.50Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,685.81Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $85.40Cost of a cappuccino: $3.91
Population: 28,482,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $588.30Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $908.02Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $32.33Cost of a cappuccino: $3.14
16. Shanghai
Population: 28,482,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $588.30Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $908.02Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $32.33Cost of a cappuccino: $3.14
Population: 21,312,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $578.20Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $984.62Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $28.11Cost of a cappuccino: $2.86
15. Beijing
Population: 21,312,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $578.20Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $984.62Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $28.11Cost of a cappuccino: $2.86
Population: 2,989,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,330.10Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,459.87Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $115.28Cost of a cappuccino: $4.92
14. Amsterdam
Population: 2,989,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,330.10Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,459.87Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $115.28Cost of a cappuccino: $4.92
Population: 24,160,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,034.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $868.77Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.47Cost of a cappuccino: $3.61
13. Seoul
Population: 24,160,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,034.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $868.77Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $54.47Cost of a cappuccino: $3.61
Population: 12,928,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,348.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,555.26Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $100.00Cost of a cappuccino: $5.74
12. Los Angeles
Population: 12,928,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,348.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,555.26Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $100.00Cost of a cappuccino: $5.74
Population: 5,450,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,134.50Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,197.54Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $81.61Cost of a cappuccino: $3.52
11. Sydney
Index: 96.6Stability: 95.0Healthcare: 100.0Culture and environment: 94.4Education: 100.0Infrastructure: 96.4
Population: 5,094,000Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,549.23Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $911.3Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17Cost of a cappuccino: $2.96
10. Barcelona
Population: 5,094,000Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,549.23Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $911.3Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17Cost of a cappuccino: $2.96
Population: 5,106,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,140.7Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,420.68Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $72.05Cost of a cappuccino: $4.44
9. Berlin
Population: 5,106,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,140.7Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,420.68Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $72.05Cost of a cappuccino: $4.44
Population: 6,000,000Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,458.65Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,128.6Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $81.69Cost of a cappuccino: $5.85
8. Dubai
Population: 4,306,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,022.6Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,447.95Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.69Cost of a cappuccino: $2.09
7. Rome
Population: 4,306,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,022.6Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,447.95Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $80.69Cost of a cappuccino: $2.09
Population: 6,038,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,126.1Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,967.40Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $68.86Cost of a cappuccino: $4.67
6. Singapore
Population: 6,038,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,126.1Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $2,967.40Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $68.86Cost of a cappuccino: $4.67
Population: 6,983,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $929.20Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,512.80Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24
5. Madrid
Population: 6,983,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $929.20Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,512.80Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $69.17Cost of a cappuccino: $3.24
Population: 36,635,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $930.3Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $996.97Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $41.95Cost of a cappuccino: $3.26
4. Tokyo
Population: 36,635,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $930.3Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $996.97Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant (excluding drinks): $41.95Cost of a cappuccino: $3.26
Population: 13,171,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,206.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,609.17Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $74.93Cost of a cappuccino: $5.01
3. Paris
Population: 13,171,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,206.80Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $1,609.17Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $74.93Cost of a cappuccino: $5.01
Population: 19,940,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,668.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,142.86Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $145Cost of a cappuccino: $5.72
2. New York
Population: 19,940,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,668.60Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $4,142.86Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $145Cost of a cappuccino: $5.72
Population: 12,451,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,393.7Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $3,112.03Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $104.58Cost of a cappuccino: $5.27
1. London
Population: 12,451,000Monthly costs for a single person (excluding housing): $1,393.7Average monthly rent for a one-bedroom home in the city center: $3,112.03Cost of a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant: $104.58Cost of a cappuccino: $5.27
Credit: businessinsider.com
